Reply With Quote
The Lakers are done.
As it stands, the Spurs and Lakers would square off in the WCSF should they both win their first round match-ups (which I think they will). Now, a lot of people have talked about how the Lakers' enormous front-court is sure to spell the end of the Spurs' championship run should it in fact play out as I've predicted.
I'm not so sure.
Granted, the Lakers have arguably the best frontcourt in the NBA with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum manning the paint. But behind these two guys is a veritable list of nobodies--Josh McRoberts, Troy Murphy, and Jordan Hill. That's probably why these guys don't get much playing time in the regular season. Pau Gasol, who is a seasoned 31 years old, has played the 6th most minutes in the NBA; Andrew Bynum, who, granted, is still young, is 29th in minutes played.
Keep in mind, however, that Bynum has been plagued with injury throughout his career, and his health this season is the exception, not the norm. He's never played more than 65 games in a season and has never averaged more than 30 minutes a game prior to this year, where he's right around 36 minutes. I'm not saying an injury is inevitable, but given the condensed season and the grueling playoff schedule , where he'll likely bang bodies with the other (bigger) Gasol in what I expect to be a 7-game series with the Grizzlies, it's worth keeping in mind.
But the possibility of injury is present for every team, so the Lakers are not unique in this regard. But the danger of fatigue looms large over Laker-land. As I said, Gasol and Bynum are 6th and 29th, respectively, in the league in minutes played. Number 2 on that list (and only 20 minutes behind leader, Dwight Howard) is none other than the Black Mamba himself, Kobe Bryant, all 33 years of him. For the months of February and March, Kobe has shot an abysmal 40% while averaging 23 shots a game. Is it fatigue? I wouldn't rule it out.
To put this in perspective, the highest Spurs on most-minutes-played list is Tony Parker at 55 and Tim Duncan at 109.
The big rotation players for the Lakers are all wings (MWP, Matt Barnes) and if there's one thing the Spurs of have plenty of, it's wings (don't tell Dejuan or Boris, though). Yes, the Lakers are winning, but it's not coming easy and the tension is mounting. The April 11th match-up with the hopefully full-strength Spurs will go a long way in testing my theory. But I think with the incredible depth and versatility the Spurs have at their disposal and their high octane offense that's capable of running up and down the floor, it wouldn't be a huge shock to see the Sun's formula finally work should we end up playing the Lakers.
All this depends on how much you buy into the effect a condensed season will have on teams. I could be overestimating this effect, but I'd like to think that it will play a factor somehow. And considering Pop's conscious efforts to limit minutes for the Big 3, it seems like he thinks so too.
Last edited by HeroSquad; 03-31-2012 at 06:52 PM.
The Lakers are done.
Threat ?
3 for 21.
About the chances the Lakers have at beating the Spurs, if they can get out of the first round. Lakers have a 3-deep bench, they will be exhausted and broken by the time the playoffs arrive. Kobe is 34 and playing 39 minutes a game, and played every game so far.
I don't know about you, but any team with Kobe, Gasol, and Bynum have to be considered somewhat of a threat. But for now, I'll concede to you the question mark.
If you look at the month of March, the Lakers are not winning games with any domination of the teams they are playing. In fact, they are 11-6 with a slightly over a +2 pt differential. Kobe just went 0--15 to start against the Hornets. Sure he made the winning basket, but 3-21 will not get it done against the Spurs offense. Going with 8 players for a close game against the bottom team in the West, well, let's just say that is sad.
Lakers are toast..
If Bean continues to shoot at below 40% while taking a lion's share of his team's shots means they're looking at getting a future ass-kicking in the playoffs.
Yeah, the S gets lost in the acronym, but I think I put WCSF. But you're right, they meet in the Western Conference Semi-Finals.
I saw that after the fact....but yeah....Bean plays like that....Ass-Kicking will ensue.
Jordan played 39 minutes a game at 34 though Kobe does have more mileage at the same point.
But I think we can all agree that Kobe is no Jordan. And I don't think it's that close either.
Lakers have a lot tougher schedule coming up than the Clips. Pretty good chance Clips pass them. Really, it's not a given that OKC will hold on to #1 either. Spurs-Lakers could just as easily be a 1-4 matchup as a 2-3. If Spurs do hold on to #2 though, I don't think Lakers will be waiting for them.
So much fear in this thread
Mike. Brown.So much fear in this thread
There's no reason to be scared.
The only real Laker threat, that they trade more of their clutch players to Western conference contenders, is passed for this year. Though, to be truthful, their current most clutch player, Metta World Peace, isn't likely to have any trade value to them in the offseason.
He lost to the Magic and Celtics even though the Cavs were the best team in the NBA those years.
Then you understand why I'm so confident he'll find a way to torpedo his team out of the playoffs.
There lies the problem for Los Angeles
Take Kobe out of your equation and they are actually a better team
Lakers a threat?
I get the feeling that you only read the le.Lakers a threat?
Their offense is SO bad, that if their defense weren't what it is, they'd be in the lottery.
Their bench is also trash.
Conversely, their defense is so good that if Kobe would learn not to shoot the ball so much, they'd be instant contenders.
Lakers may not be playing their best ball but they are a still a threat to anyone until the final whistle stops for them in a season - they still have three of the top 20 players in the game and improved PG - to discount them is sublime especially since their coach knows Pop's system.
hath frozen over if Rummpd is the voice of reason
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
